ollie napesni

TRIBE: Sicangu Lakota

MEDIUM: Traditional Quilting

LOCATION: St. Francis, South Dakota

All of the art I do is traditional in form. The beading, doll making, and quilt making are all forms of and that have been passed down from generation to generation. I am involved in telling the old stories to the children so that they may learn them and again past those stories onto their family and their own children. If these stories were not taught to our younger generations they would be lost. They are a large part of our history and culture and it is very important to keep them alive." - Ollie Napesni

"She is an amazing person, small of stature, big of heart and gigantic in her contribution to preserving traditional arts and lifeways of the Lakota." Linda Szabo, nominator